One of the most common problems in the pediatric population are ear infections (otitis media). Middle ear inflammation is the accurate description as there is no actual infection present, in most cases. Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection during their first year, and by age three, over two-thirds of all children will have had at least one middle ear infection.

Symptoms include more obvious and some more subtle signs:

Ear pain

Fever

Irritability

Dizziness, in older children

Low appetite

Less than normal activity

Shaking the head

Pulling on the ear

Crying

Causes of ear infections can be complex and multifaceted, including allergy, infection,mechanical obstruction, and nutritional deficiency.

Allergy

Many cases of chronic ear infections are due to food or airborne allergies or hypersensitivity reactions. Allergies can cause significant pressure changes within the middle ear, as well as obstruction of the Eustachian tube. The most common allergens implicated in ear infection are cow’s milk and dairy products, wheat, eggs, chocolate, citrus, corn, soy, peanuts or other nuts, shellfish, sugar, and yeast. Dairy is the number one contributor to childhood ear problems. Proper allergy management, such as elimination and rotation diets, can produce dramatic recovery in allergic children with chronic ear infections.

Infection

If immune function is lowered for any reason, bacteria or viruses from the nose or throat can find their way into the middle ear and contribute to an ear infection. When these germs multiply, pus builds up behind the eardrum and increases the pressure, which leads to pain and swelling in the ear. Often a common cold with a stuffy, runny nose or a cough precedes the ear infection.

Mechanical Obstruction

The obstruction of the Eustachian tube can be due to a mechanical misalignment. This blockage is due to problems of the structural components around the ear and eustachian tube, including the bones of the jaw, skull and neck, which move gently in synchronization with one another. The movement of these bones allows for the proper movement of the fluids in the head, including the fluids connecting between the sinuses, Eustachian tubes and ears. Many things can change the proper movement of the bones in the head, including falls, recurrent infections, and the trauma of birth (especially if tools were used).

Since an ear infection contains fluid that accumulates behind the ear drum, gentle movement of the bones of the head to allow drainage of the fluid can prevent and cure such an infection. Craniosacral work is the gentle movement of the bones of a child’s head and sacrum. Using craniosacral work for treatment and prevention of ear infections is especially helpful. Seek out a pediatric chiropractor, who specialize in cranial work for your child.

Nutritional Deficiencies

An organic, unprocessed, whole foods diet, low in sugar, is essential for creating good health with high immune function. Dietary fats, such as Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), are essential to normal immune and nervous system function, while reducing the predisposition to recurrent infections and inflammatory conditions. Essential fatty acids are found in flax oil, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, krill oil, and fish oil. This should ideally be started by the mother while she is pregnant and during breast-feeding. One or two teaspoons per day of flax oil, depending on age, may be all the child needs.

Deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals can weaken a child’s immunity. It is valuable to give children a good multivitamin and mineral supplement. Vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc are essential to the immune system, protecting against ear infection, and the conversion of fatty acids, respectively.

Supplementation of the diet with intestinal bacteria is important to healthy immunity, especially if a child has been on antibiotics. L. acidophilus is recommended for children over age seven, and B. bifidus for children under seven.

Breastfeeding is important to ensure that a child has a healthy immune system. Mother’s milk contains all the immune protecting complexes the child needs. Also, the sucking action required to breastfeed also helps the Eustachian tubes open and close, which makes a difference in the frequency that a child is likely to get ear infections.

Antibiotics and Other Medications

Ear infections are rarely an emergency and usually will get better without antibiotic treatment, which is what is typically prescribed. A reasonable approach in treating a child with an ear infection, who is otherwise healthy, is to wait four days and see if the body will recover without antibiotics. If after four days, the infection has not gone away, antibiotics may make a difference. Keep in mind that if an allergic child continues to be exposed to an allergen, or if the main cause is not resolved, recurrent infections are likely.

From the perspective of the whole person, giving medications to block and suppress an illness can push the illness further into the body. Anti-inflammatory drugs block the formation of some chemicals that promote inflammation, while also blocking chemicals that naturally prevent inflammation, as well as trigger the release of substances that make inflammation worse.

Prevention Options

Lifestyle habits make a significant difference in recurrent ear infections:

Allergens: Remove food allergies and hypersensitivities.

Positioning: A child should not lie down on his or her back to drink a bottle or feed, to be less likely to push fluids into the Eustachian tube.

Breastfeed as much as you can, even more during a symptomatic period of earaches.

Raindrop Technique® blends the art of aromatherapy with the techniques of Vita Flex and soft tissue therapy, by a process of layering different Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils to the feet and spine. This therapeutic protocol has been known to increase the immune system function and to create balance and harmony in the body – physically, mentally, and emotionally. In addition, it is a very effective in detoxification and can assist your body in eliminating toxins, symptoms related to stress & health issues and relax muscular tension in the back, because the therapeutic healing process begins on a cellular level.

Raindrop Technique® combines different healing modalities to create a synergistic effect on the body:

Aromatherapy – where the essential oils are applied undiluted (NEAT) to the body

Vita Flex Technique – where slight pressure is applied to reflexology points on the feet

Feather Stroking – similar to effleurage in massage therapy, which are long, sweeping strokes on the body to simulate a feather touching

Raindrop Technique® is a gentle, holistic modality that offers you the opportunity to relax and can be coupled with your regular chiropractic care and/or a reiki session to enhance your overall health and wellness. A therapeutic session lasts 1 hour, plus any additional time for your adjustment and/or reiki.

What to expect after a therapeutic session?

Most often you will feel relaxed, energized, and with a heightened awareness. Yet as the Raindrop Technique encourages detoxification, you may experience sinus drainage, headache, or an emotional release. All of the effect depend on the individual basis and are affected by multiple factors. SO you should always consult with the doctor beforehand. You are also very encouraged to drink plenty of water before and after your session.

Special Offer

Dr. Tijana is currently offering your Introductory session at $49.00, with following sessions at $80.00 (39% savings). Each session fee includes the $30.00 expense for the essential oils. Call our office at 706.254.4579 to schedule your appointment!

Happy New Year, everyone!

It’s 2014 and we’re off to a chilly start in most of Eastern US. So as you are staying warm and cuddly, let use this opportunity and the time to create an awesome beginning to the New Year and set some goals of what you are yearning for. I’ve never been a huge fan of resolutions, but setting goals is a whole another game.

So as I was setting myself up to dig deep and set personal and professional goals, I came across this video about how to focus your goals on experiences, growth, and contribution! And it was a great way to focus on your passion and the juiciness you want in life! So check it out here!

For myself in 2014: I am looking forward to educating my community, bringing health and wellness to children and their families, and advocating for women and children. I am also looking forward to doing more travelling, taking a vacation, and enjoying some downtime.

It’s that special time of the year for the holidays, the chilly winter air, and sniffly noses. Winter months tend to keep us warm and cozy, so it is of ultimate importance to take good care of yourself – body, mind, and spirit! We have discussed previously some of the ways to boost your immunity throughout the colder months. However, sometimes that simply isn’t enough to keep the cold and flu at bay, and then we have to get back to the state of health and wellness!

The cold and flu can be very uncomfortable, with body aches, fever, runny nose, and sneezing, and may last between 5 – 10 days, which is the same amount of time as medically treated ones. Therefore, one of the best cures is TIME!

So while you’re waiting for time to pass toward recovery, there are 7 ways to help the time go by with some comfort:

1. Steam it up. Turn up the heat in the shower and close the bathroom door to create a steam room. You can also put some essential oils in the shower and bath; I prefer the Young Living Essential Oils of Peppermint, Thieves, Eucalyptus, Breathe Again, and others. Spend some time in the “steam room,” which will help loosen the mucous and moisturize the nasal passages. Also, remember to follow it up by blowing your nose frequently or suctioning the baby’s nose. You can also use a diffuser with the essential oils throughout the day and evening to make sleep time more comfortable. With a fever, you also want to continue to keep yourself bundled up and sweat it out. Although it may be uncomfortable, a fever is not a problem, but rather it indicates that there is something your body is trying to fight on its own, so instead of trying to reduce it, allow it to run its course.

2. Drink (and eat) up! Increase your fluid intake, which will help keep you hydrated, thin the secretions, coat your throat, and improve your comfort level. So make sure to keep drinking water, warm water and hot tea with honey and lemon, and soups, especially the chicken noodle soup, for its anti-viral properties. Don’t forget to add extra fresh garlic and herbs (ginger, parsley, thyme, sage, turmeric, and rosemary) to your foods! Mixing garlic with lemon juice and honey is another way to help boost your immune system!

3. Use the Neti pot! Loosening the mucous in your nasal passages may be a process, but it’s necessary to help you breathe and continue your road to health. Keeping the nasal passages clear will help prevent an additional sinus infection, plus you’ll feel more comfortable being able to breathe easier. Using the Neti pot with a warm saline solution will help your nose clear and breathable. Again, remember to follow it up by blowing your nose frequently or suctioning the baby’s nose. As a result, your nose may feel a little raw, so putting a nourishing and moisturizing balm, such as coconut oil, under and around your nose will help.

4. Lightly tap the chest. You can lightly tap or clap the chest and back, especially with children. This light percussive technique is done with an open palm and only requires pressure slightly harder than burping a baby; this will create light vibrations that help loosen the phlegm and make breathing more comfortable. Afterwards, it is also a good time to use a vaporizing chest and/or back rub, which could be as simple as putting a few drops of (warming) essential oils in some coconut oil.

5. Get some rest! As TIME is your biggest ally in healing a cold, that also means that you need to give yourself the time to heal, which means that you need to slow down, a little at the very least. I realize that in itself may seem like a huge feat, but it’s necessary to help you heal and spend less time being sick and uncomfortable. Because dragging it out longer than necessary will increase the risk of even longer recovery time and additional infections. So ask for help with the kids, reschedule some events, and stay put and bundled!

6. Get adjusted! Call your chiropractor and schedule an appointment to get your nervous system checked right away; don’t wait! Your immune system can definitely use a boost and the best way you can do that is to get a chiropractic adjustment. We don’t mind that you are symptomatic and we are not afraid to catch the cold or flu from you! All it means is that we’re going to get adjusted as well. Whenever I’m feeling less than stellar, I go see my chiropractor! And it makes a HUGE difference in how my body is able to heal itself!

7. Know when to go see a medical doctor! If you have been giving yourself the time and the care to get healthier, you should be back to your awesome self within 5-10 days. However, if your symptoms have worsened over 5 days or have not improved at all within 10 days, check in with your primary care physician to make sure you do not have a more serious infection or bronchitis.

The chiropractic lifestyle offers choices and benefits for your greater health and well-being for the whole family, from preconception through pregnancy, infancy, childhood, into adulthood and more mature age. Chiropractic allows for optimally functioning nervous system by assessing the neuromuscular, postural, and biomechanical imbalances and adjusting the subluxations to promote the full expression of Life!

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercise must be a part of your regimen. But working out doesn’t come as easily to some people as it does to others. Some people have created a habit from a young age as athletes in school, while others were not in the same mindset. So similarly to other aspect of one’s life, exercising can be simply a matter of creating a habit.

Personally, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with exercise for years. Growing up in Europe, an active lifestyle of lots of walking, biking, and regular physical education classes were just part of life. So when we moved to the US, these parts of our lives changed, which meant that exercising was a much more involved process as it required going someplace to do a specific activity. I found going to a workout gym uncomfortable, but sooner or later, I started going to yoga classes, which seemed less intimidating and enjoyable, while also getting a great workout. Over the years, I also really enjoyed getting outside, taking hikes, long walks, and swimming.

Most importantly, over this time, I’ve learned the importance of regular physical exercise and have chosen to incorporate it into my life, for my own health and well-being. But it also allows me to talk to my patients about it. So here we go!

Let’s talk about some of the reasons for why you should strap your shoes on today and just get out:

1. For better health: A number of studies have shown a reduction in lifestyle-related illnesses, and even deaths, among people who exercise, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and more. Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day makes a significant difference.

2. For LESS stress: Exercise is a great way to reduce physical and mental stress in the body, as you increase the amount of oxygen that you are getting to your brain and muscles. At first, the rewards may not be immediate, but if you give it 3-6 weeks, you will be able to note an increase in the “feel good” hormone, serotonin, as your stress levels and even your mood improves. Your emotional state, including anxiety and depression, may see a change for the better naturally.

3. For a speedy metabolism: Your metabolism account for the quantity of calories you burn each day and how quickly that takes place. Strength training helps you do this more efficiently as it builds muscle mass, burning calories while the body is resting. If strength training sounds intimidating (I know it did to me), there are ways to do it without lifting a lot of weight in a gym. You can use your own body weight, smaller weights at home, and machines.

4. For a vibrant future: Exercise has been shown to help create neural connections in your brain that sharpen thinking and decrease fatigue, which are extremely important as we age and our cognitive abilities start decreasing. As the brain is getting more stimulation and oxygen, so does the rest of the body to help decrease the muscle loss, also accompanied with the aging process. As a result, exercise will keep you strong and independent physically and mentally for longer.

5. For a higher self-esteem: When you are fit, you look better, which makes you feel better and makes you feel and BE more attractive to others. Regardless of your relationship status, you will look and feel your best for yourself and your partner, that can open the door to a long and happy future.

So let’s vow to leave the laziness, busy schedules, and other excuses at the door, and go out and exercise! It’s okay to start out small and work your way up. Get inspired and then some. Create a habit of even 30 minutes a day. Add a few pounds of weights or do planks in between commercials of your favorite TV show. Like Nike says, just DO IT!

A number of factors affect the immune system for adults and children each day. With the beginning of the school year, it is really important to keep your children and yourself healthy. No one wants to worry about having a sick child or a family member at home, but as the weather changes into fall, more time is spent indoors, and stress increases, it is essential to boost your immunity and stay healthy all year round.

So let’s discuss some things you can incorporate in your routine to increase your immunity naturally and take full advantage of this time of the year:

Nutritional Support:

Eat more Green. You’ve heard it from me many-a-times, and many others, that keeping a plentiful intake of greens, vegetables and fruits, is important to promote immune health. Try some mushrooms (shiitake, maitake and reishi), which contain complex carbohydrates, the beta-glucans, that enhance immune activity against infections and reduce allergies, a common inappropriate immune system activity. Use plenty of garlic, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, echinacea, and ginseng in your cooking, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Also remember to eat sufficient protein, and not just meat!

Nix the sugar. Avoid eating a lot of processed foods and liquids with added sugars and artificial ingredients, such as aspartame, BHT, TBHQ, artificial food coloring, etc. because all of them suppress the immune response in the body.

If in dire need and experiencing symptoms, find a natural supplement and increase the intake up to 3,000 mg.

Get your vitamin D.Vitamin D helps facilitate the anti-inflammatory process and fights infections from invading bacteria and viruses. Go outside for 15 minutes each day for a little bit of sun exposure. Also, maintain a diet that includes a lot of omega-3-rich foods, such as fish, mushrooms, and eggs.

Pick elderberry. Elderberries support the immune system and are a great source of vitamins C, A, and B6, and minerals iron, potassium, and calcium. The elderberry extract can help you recover from the flu within 2-3 days days, as shown in a double-blind study. It is also the second-highest antioxidant fruit.

Staying healthy and happy at the beginning of the school year set your WHOLE FAMILY up for success!

Physical Support:

Exercise. Move your body, period! Walk, run, do yoga, pilates, stretching, weights, or any other form of exercise to get your blood pumping, your heart rate up, your breathing accelerated, and relieve the stress and tension. As a result, it will help enhance your immune function. Don’t forget to have some fun either with some of the winter activities.

See your chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustment helps maintain a well-functioning nervous system by aligning the spine, which helps keep the immune system at an optimum level to fight illness.

Get some sleep. Getting 6-8 hours of sleep each night is imperative to allow the body to rest and repair itself from the daily activities. Lack of sleep can activate the stress response with elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels, depressed immune system function, and create inflammatory response in the body. So allow your body to repair and integrate itself each night!

Emotional Support:

Stress less. The stresses of the holiday season can actually weaken your immune system by increasing the levels of adrenaline and cortisol in your blood stream. Long-term, chronic stress can create lasting effects on the body, making a person hyper reactive to inflammatory and allergic reactions, such as allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disease. Psychological stress also make a person more susceptible to the colds and viruses. Try countering stressful situations with exercise, yoga, spending some time outside, relaxing in the quiet, meditating, or even breathing deeply.

Make friends. An active social life can help you stay healthy and live longer. The same counts for the furry friends because you are more likely to get outside and exercise. So use this opportunity to visit some family and friends, make plans to get together, and get out and enjoy yourself!

Increasing your immunity throughout the year will help you and your family have fun and stay healthy!

Pregnancy is one of the ultimate times of change for many women, on a physical, biochemical, and emotional level. The physical transformation is certainly very significant, including weight gain, postural changes, and hormonal changes throughout the process. The increased stresses and demands on the body may result in some degree of discomfort and may vary among the pregnant moms. The women who were experiencing body discomforts prior to pregnancy may notice an exacerbation (worsening) of symptoms.

According to Institute of Medicine guidelines, the average weight gain for a woman with a healthy pre-pregnancy BMI range is between 25-35 pounds, which varies for underweight pre-pregnant women (28-40 pounds), overweight pre-pregnant women (11-20 pounds), and women carrying multiples. It is important to know a mom’s pre-pregnant BMI range to best determine what the expected weight gain should be and make lifestyle changes accordingly. Excess weight gain can be associated with serious medical conditions: gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, longer labor times, and increased likelihood for medical interventions, such as induced labor and Cesarean section.

A woman’s posture throughout pregnancy will continually change in order to accommodate the body for the growing fetus. The postural changes are heavily influenced by the secretion of pregnancy hormones, which allow for relaxation of ligaments that support the skeletal structure of the body, especially important in the pelvis during the pregnancy and labor. The woman’s center of gravity will begin to shift forward, even before there is noticeable “baby bump.” In addition, the curves of the spine will start changing with baby’s growth and mother’s weight gain. The curvature in the low back will be increased as the belly continues to protrude forward, which will cause additional stress on the discs between the vertebrae. Subsequently, the curvature of the upper back will increase as well in order to compensate for the load on the lower back.

Although, all of these changes in the body are part of the natural process of pregnancy, it is important for a woman to maintain a healthy (although altered) balanced posture in order to avoid discomfort and pain, prevent injury, and allow the body to transition back into its non-pregnant state post-partum. Accommodating the growing baby within the abdomen and pelvis with appropriately enabled motion also allows for high instance of proper fetal positioning, less complications during labor and birth, and lower instance of delivery with use of instruments.

Chiropractic aids in correcting body’s imbalances, evident in neuromusculoskeletal misalignments and overcompensations in posture, especially critical during pregnancy. The presence of these misalignments, vertebral subluxations, will interfere with the nervous system’s ability to communicate with the body through distorted brain messages. Chiropractic offers a safe, gentle, hands-on approach to combat pregnancy discomforts, such as nausea, heartburn, constipation, back pain, pubic pain, and others. Being under regular chiropractic care will allow for a subluxation-free pregnancy without joint and nerve dysfunction, allowing the body to transition through the stages of pregnancy and prepare for a successful birth experience with a properly aligned spine. Allowing the nervous system to meet its challenges with less overall stress will be able to improve the chances of healthier pregnancy naturally.

Chiropractic care continues to be important after childbirth, especially in the 2-3 months following delivery, as the pregnancy hormones start to decrease making the loosened ligaments more tight again. Helping reestablish a balanced posture post-partum will prevent pregnancy-induced neuromusculoskeletal problem, such as muscle tension, headaches, upper or lower back pain, shoulder problems, rib problems, and more.

Improving health and well-being from inside out can be facilitated through your local chiropractor, with additional support through proper movement, nutrition and ergonomics recommendations, which will help you make significant strides to prepare the body for yourself and your baby.

So in order to make the healthy pregnancy a more comfortable and enjoyable experience, here are a few recommendations to consider:

Movement: Maintaining an active lifestyle will help prevent discomfort throughout and after the pregnancy. Exercising at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes of moderate activity would be ideal. There is a number of low-impact activity choices, such as walking, swimming, stationary cycling, mild jogging (if already a runner), prenatal yoga, gentle stretching, and more. It is important to bring up the heart rate, but not above 140 beats per minute. If experiencing any discomfort, severe pain or other unusual symptoms, discontinue exercise and notify your doctor before continuing. Also, allow yourself the necessary rest, not only during exercise, but in general. Take a nap when tired, elevate your feet when you need a break, and ask for help without exerting yourself.

Nutrition:Nutrient-dense foods are needed for the growth and development of the mother and the baby, which includes essentials, such as protein, calcium, omega-3s, iron, B vitamins (folate), vitamin C, fiber, zinc, and magnesium. Drinking wateris necessary for increased demand on the body, enough hydration, increased blood volume and healthy blood cells, breast milk production, and keeping the body at the optimum temperature (especially important during the hot summer months). Avoid processed foods, sugars, stimulants, caffeine, alcohol, and drugs.

Ergonomics:Wear sensible shoes that are supportive and sturdy, allow for proper support, and are comfortable. (Ladies, give your high heels a break!) You also want to prevent any possibility of injury and/or falls. Remember proper procedures when lifting, even if it’s your baby, by bending your knees, turning at the waist and not the head, and avoiding excessive weight; again, ask for help!During sleep, lying on the side is the ideal position with a pillow between the knees and extra support against the back (full-length body pillows come highly recommended at my practice!). Use proper ergonomics at your desk or workstation for limited discomfort and take frequent breaks every 30 minutes away from your seated position by walking and stretching.

Best wishes as you venture out on your pregnancy! We are here to help you through the process and welcome your healthy, happy baby into the world!

The short answer, is: in most cases, yes! When chiropractors talk about the nervous system, and its ability to control ALL systems of the body, we are not just talking about muscles and bones! Our nervous system controls the endocrineglands (which are responsible for producing and balancing hormones in our bodies), and when there is interference in any of the myriad pathways (i.e. nerves) that travel from brain to glands, and back again, dysfunction results.

The longer the interference is present, the more serious the dysfunction becomes.

Many people are unfamiliar with the endocrine glands of the body until they present a problem for their health! The endocrine glands are glands that produce and excrete hormones into the blood, which are necessary for functions such as maintaining healthy weight, having enough energy, sleeping properly, being able to reproduce, handling sugar as it comes into our bodies, and handling stress properly. Hormone levels in the body are measured with blood tests, and there are ranges of “normal”, which in my humble opinion, is the most dangerous of all.

We actually vary greatly in how “normal” levels look; and what is normal for one person may be quite low, or high, for someone else. Many people present in my office with hormone imbalances, saying, “But my test came back normal. The doctor told me it’s NOT my ____________.” We start adjusting these people, and possibly have them begin some whole foods supplements to help dig them out of the hole of bad health, and they get better. We supplement for the glands the other doctors told them were not the problem. This is one of the biggest challenges we face. If we cannot trust the tests, how can we trust the doctors?

The endocrine system is controlled by a very small part of the brain known as the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is aware at ALL times, of the exact hormone levels in the body, which glands are active and which are passive, who is doing what job, and how well things are working. The hypothalamus is known as the Master Gland, because of the vital role it plays in linking the nervous system to the endocrine system (via the pituitary gland, which is also in the brain). The hypothalamus controls what are called autonomic functions of the body,which includes the endocrine system, the digestive system, and body temperature regulation.

When there is inadequate blood supply (which remember, is controlled by the nervous system: telling blood vessels when to enlarge, and when to constrict), or imbalanced nervous input (from a direct subluxation), the hypothalamus cannot do its job properly. Endocrine system dysfunction (meaning, hormone imbalances and problems) often takes months or years to develop, because we do not notice symptoms until the problem is big enough.

Since these problems do not develop over night, it is unrealistic to believe that the body symptoms will be alleviated in one or two adjustments. If we truly want to give our bodies the best possible chance of healing themselves, we need to commit to a course of chiropractic adjustments, and give our bodies the time required to heal themselves. Chiropractic is not magic, nor a miracle; it is simply restoring the body’s inborn ability to heal itself, which is far greater than we have been permitted to believe.

Talk to your chiropractor as soon as you can if you have problems with your thyroid gland, your pancreas, or you experience difficult menstruation or are having trouble conceiving. Indicators that you may have a hormone problem are low energy, getting sick all the time, inexplicable pain, inability to sleep, trouble losing or gaining weight, losing your hair…the list goes on and on. When in doubt, check with the chiropractor first, and see what her opinion is. In the long run, it may save you quite a bit of time and money!